Milford woman arraigned in weekend crash

Tuesday

Mar 4, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By Mike GleasonDaily News Staff

MILFORD - A local woman was arraigned in Milford District Court Monday on charges stemming from a two-car crash Saturday night that plunged a minivan into the water and sent four to the hospital.Elizabeth Facey, 21, of 15 Vassar Ave., Milford, pleaded not guilty to charges of operating under the influence of liquor, failing to stop or yield, child endangerment and operating under the influence of liquor leading to serious injury.Police say that Facey was driving drunk with her 3-year-old child in the car when the accident occurred.Judge Robert Calagione released Facey on her own recognizance on the conditions that she not drink alcohol, stay away from the occupants of the other car and comply with orders from the state Department of Children and Families.Linda George - whose daughter, granddaughter and grandson were in the other car - spoke outside the courtroom Monday. She said she was angered by the Facey family's attitude in court."It's like they don't think this is a big deal," she said. "Three kids and an adult could have been killed. Her daughter could have been killed."George said she was surprised the judge did not set bail in the case."My daughter is taking little steps at a time, my granddaughter and grandson are traumatized, and she's walking free," George said.Milford Police Officer Jonathan Lavigne wrote in an affidavit that he responded to reports of an accident at Fortune Boulevard and East Main Street at 9:17 p.m. Saturday. He said he found a two-car accident on the scene with one vehicle partially submerged in the water.Lavigne said Facey told him she and her child were not injured. In the other vehicle, however, four people complained of numerous injuries, he said.A 14-year-old passenger of the minivan, Lavigne wrote, had a severe injury to her hand and was bleeding profusely. Police later learned that the teenager may have suffered broken ribs, is in a neck brace and faces multiple hand surgeries.According to Lavigne, Facey failed numerous sobriety tests and smelled strongly of alcohol. He said she could not complete the one-leg stand, could not walk a straight line and omitted "Y" when asked to recite the alphabet. Lavigne said her blood-alcohol content was measured at .102 percent.Police said occupants of the minivan said that they were coming back home from the Natick Mall. They said they had a green light at the intersection, heard tires screeching and couldn't remember anything more.Police concluded that Facey ignored the red light and entered the intersection striking the minivan.Mike Gleason can be reached at 508-634-7546 or mgleason@wickedlocal.com. For news throughout the day, follow him on Twitter @MGleason_MDN.